Alone with the Trees by PickFiction,PickFiction

All of my writing is fiction, and the stories and characters are products of my imagination. They were created for my fun and, hopefully, your enjoyment. Some of the events in the stories are not particularly condoned nor encouraged by the author but are there to create and enhance the story of the imaginary characters and their lives. Comments are always encouraged and carefully reviewed. All characters within the story that need to be are 18 years of age or older. I hope you enjoy! And take a second to vote and comment.

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SENIOR PROM 2006 the big sign said, and I could barely believe I was there to see it. And I was there with none other than Christine Cummings, much to the chagrin of half of the male members of the senior class. It was difficult to imagine that it had happened. I had asked her early, on a whim since I knew that she would get a hundred invitations, and when she said yes, I nearly wet my pants. I started to ask her if she was sure but cut off before I said it.

It was several weeks before the prom, and I was beaming, although I found I hadn’t become one of Christine’s close buddies, or maybe close friends was a more appropriate way of saying it. She spoke to me when we passed in the hall, which was new, but that was the extent of our familiarity.

I told my best friend Les that Christine was going to the prom with me, and he nearly choked because he was laughing so hard. I decided I wouldn’t share my good fortune with anyone else.

Of course, my mind was in a turmoil most of the time, often wondering if I had only imagined Christine saying yes. That thought tormented me daily, and it was often her bright “hello” that made it seem real again.

Two days before the prom, she slipped me a piece of paper with her address, phone number, and some simple instructions, i.e., call me to finalize our arrangements. “Finalize” seemed a bit strange since there’d been no preliminaries that needed finalization. But I was more than happy that I had Christine’s phone number and would be calling her, probably tomorrow. And I was the only one that would be calling her about prom details. I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she’d said yes.

“Hello.” A bit of a questioning tone to her voice.

“Hi, Christine. This is Adrian.”

“Oh, hi, Adrian. I’m so glad you called. I was getting anxious about prom night.”

“Oh…um…sorry. I just wanted to make sure everything was set before I called.”

“Nice. Go ahead, then.”

“Well, I have an idea. I hope you’re okay with it.”

“Oh? Some kind of surprise?”

I thought I heard a tiny laugh. It was now or never. My mom had insisted I do it, so I had little choice, not having a lot of experience with dating and proms.

“Um, how would you like to go to Reeb’s for dinner at about seven?”

I was totally ready for a refusal on that one, but Mom had insisted.

“That sounds like fun. I know some of the others are going to Willard’s, too.”

A quick shifting of gears. “We could go there if you’d like.”

“If you’ve planned on Reebs, that sounds perfect to me.”

What was going on here? This was Christine Cummings I was talking with, and she was being kind, considerate, and very sweet…with me, Adrian, the bumpkin.

“I have a reservation for seven, so I’ll pick you up about twenty till if you think that will work.”

“My dad likes Reebs, and we’ve eaten there several times. I think twenty till sounds perfect, and I’ll be ready. I’m looking forward to it, Adrian.”

I hoped she couldn’t hear my heart pounding as I heard her say, “I’m looking forward to it.” Geesh, this was Christine Cummings, in my opinion, the best-looking girl in our class. Not everyone agreed with me, but it didn’t matter. She was.

Of course, it was near the end of April, and the weather was very warm, which allowed for all kinds of possibilities in the way of apparel. I was pretty anxious (read that drooling) thinking about how Christine might be attired. Whatever it might be, I knew she’d be beautiful. I had a summer-weight suit that I thought looked nice and was a little cooler than my regular dress suit.

Dad had just picked up a used 2004 Volkswagen Jetta that he was allowing me to use, after a long lecture, of course. I had cleaned it, even though Mom wouldn’t tolerate even the suggestion of dirt in the new car. A couple of spritzes from the can of “New Car Aroma” I’d picked up for the occasion, and I was ready.

At precisely twenty minutes before seven, I knocked on the door of the Cummings house. Five seconds later, the door opened…and I couldn’t breathe. She was breathtaking in a lime green strapless dress, not exactly revealing cleavage, but not hiding the swell of her breasts either. I’m six foot three, and, with her heels, she was nearly eye-to-eye with me.

“Adrian, come on in,” she said, extending her hand to take mine. “I want to introduce you to my parents.”

I was properly introduced, fumbling with exactly what to say as was my wont. Christine and her parents seemed to ignore it and did everything they could to make me feel at ease. I was sure they were curious as to why their daughter had accepted an invitation to the prom from me.

“Pardon me for being a pushy mom, but there’s a reason for it. What time are you guys planning to be home?”

I looked at Christine, wondering.

Her turn to look back at me with a big smile. “Eleven-thirty, okay?”

I wasn’t going to disagree. “Sounds good.”

“Mom, go ahead and tell him.”

“Adrian, I’ve made my signature pecan pie, and I’m inviting you to come in when you bring Christine home to share a piece with us and tell us about the prom.”

More time with Cnristine, so how could I refuse? “Pecan pie, huh,” I said with a big smile.

“I think you’ve got him, Mom.”

“We’ll see you then,” Christine said, taking hold of my arm as the parents told us to have fun.

My dream was coming to fruition.

There was one other prom couple at Reeb’s, but they showed no interest in joining us, so Christine and I had a table to ourselves. As we sat down, I wondered what we’d talk about.

“Only two more weeks of school,” Christine began. “I can hardly believe it after thirteen long years. What are you doing to do now?”

That was just one of the questions for which I had no answer at the moment.

“I’ve been considering several things, Christine. Dad would like me to go to technical school to learn some kind of a trade. Mom wants me to go to the community college and get at least a two-year diploma and then on to a four-year college if possible. I’ve actually looked into the military as a way of getting some free training while I’m earning a living, meager as it might be.” I thought that sounded a little frail, but it was the truth.

“Wow, lots of options, Adrian. Good luck in whichever one you choose.”

“How about you?”

“I’m headed to Stanford to study biology, I think. My parents want me to get a medical degree of some kind, but I’m not sure yet.”

“Stanford. That’s in northern California, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, Palo Alto, if you know where that is.”

I laughed. I was with the smartest, most beautiful, and talented girl I’d ever been around, and she was making me feel perfectly comfortable like I belonged here. I mean, I’m not ugly, but I’m never going to be a movie star or in one of those aftershave commercials, either.

“You going to play volleyball there?”

“I’m going to try. They’ve had fantastic teams every year and are expected to be one of the top two or three in the country next year. I hope I can be a part of it.”

“My gosh, Christine. Top two or three in the country. Good luck on that.” I loved sports and had seen her play several times and knew she’d been all-state the last three years and for good reason. I debated as to whether to ask her if she’d gotten a scholarship. “Were you lucky enough to get a scholarship for your volleyball?” As the words left my mouth, I could have kicked myself. She wouldn’t get it because she was lucky but because she was good.

“A partial for volleyball and a couple of scholastic ones as well, so I’m all set.”

I think “all set” only told half the story. Christina was “all set” without any of those scholarships, as far as I was concerned.

Dinner was good, and I don’t think Christine even noticed that every male in the restaurant was ogling her at one time or another. Initially, I was jealous, but then I began to feel almost aristocratic, being the escort of this compelling girl.

On the ride to the prom, Christine asked, “What kind of music and dancing do you like, Adrian?” From the corner of my eye, I could see that she was looking directly at me, and it was all I could do to keep from meeting her eye. Dad had emphasized safety during my lecture, so I kept my eyes on the road.

“I like most music, but…” this was a little embarrassing, “but I’m not much of a dancer.” I knew that before I asked Christine for the date, but since I’d expected a “no” answer, I didn’t think it mattered.

She reached across and touched my arm. “Don’t worry, we’ll get along fine.”

I was almost ready to ask her why she had agreed to go to the prom with me, but I wasn’t quite that comfortable with her yet, even though she seemed to be doing her best to make me as comfortable as possible. Maybe later, or maybe I didn’t want to know.

As soon as I opened the passenger-side door of the Jetta and Christine stepped out, she took hold of my arm, gave me a big smile, and said, “Let’s go have some fun.”

We walked into the big hall just like that, and I have to say that I think everyone in the place looked at us with surprise. With the slightest pressure on my arm, she directed us toward a table directly under the big senior prom sign, where several of her friends were seated.

“You guys all know Adrian, don’t you?”

Some nods and a couple of yeahs came from people who probably knew who I was since the school wasn’t that large, but none of them knew me or have ever talked to me. I knew all of their brains were in gear, the tiny wheels working to come up with a reason that Christine was at the prom with me. Evidently, she hadn’t shared that information with any of them.

“What’s that you’re drinking, Haley?” she asked her best friend.

“Some kind of punch they made. It’s good,” Haley replied.

“No kick to it, though,” someone else said to several laughs.

Christine glanced at me.

“I’ll be right back,” I said as I headed for the table with the big punch bowl.

A parent was manning the punch service, and I received two filled glasses along with a “have a good time.”

That was my plan.

As I headed toward the table, I could see everyone there leaning toward Christine, and they all appeared to be talking at once. I was sure there were mostly questions, and my name was in all of them.

“Thank you so much, Adrian. That’s very sweet of you,” Christine said when I set the glass of punch in front of her. She took a sip and looked at Haley. “You’re right, it’s good.” Another sip and a smile toward me.

We sat at the table and talked, waiting for the music to begin. Actually, I listened while the others talked as I didn’t have a lot to contribute to their conversation. But, when the music began, Christine was on her feet almost instantly, her hand extended toward mine. I took hold and followed her to the dance floor, possibly walking but most likely floating on air.

I had danced some with a couple of other girls at football dances, so I knew a little of what to do. But doing it with Christine seemed almost surreal. The smile never left her face as I put my arm around her waist, and her arm went around my shoulder. Her hand gripped mine tightly, and the aroma of whatever perfume she was wearing found its way to the “permanent memory” portion of my brain.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly, close to my ear. “You just move around, and I’ll follow your lead.”

I began to move in what I thought might be dancing motions, and Christine was right there with me, nodding, smiling, and occasionally gracing me with a “very nice.” Having her so close to me with her big brown eyes fixed on mine was, well, indescribable, to tell the truth. It was a reverie of bliss that I prayed would never end, despite knowing that it had to end sometime soon. But I planned to absorb every look, touch, aroma, and word of this evening.

The music ended, and we returned to the table for some quick refreshments that I’d grabbed as we passed the table filled with plates of cookies and snacks. Christine took another sip of her punch and leaned in close to me.

“You did well with the dancing, but I have an idea. If we get a little closer together, I think I can lead a little, and you can follow, and you’ll learn an official dance. You seem coordinated, and I think you’ll get it in one dance.”

Closer together? It didn’t matter what else she said, those were the two words that spoke to me much clearer than all the rest. I was surely game.

After the dancing, the conversation seemed much more centered between couples and not so much general around the table than it had previously been.

“Wow, just two more weeks,” Christine said, looking up at the big sign.

“And you’ll be off to sunny California.”

“Not until August,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m going to work at my dad’s company for a couple of months, just helping out here and there. That will give me a little spending money to take with me.” She was biting her lower lip.

“That’s a long way from home, isn’t it?” I ventured.

She looked at me quickly, the smile gone.

“And a little scary as well. I’ve been away from home for summer camps and volleyball camps, but never more than a couple of hundred miles, and they only lasted a week. Palo Alto is almost twenty-five hundred miles, and I won’t be coming home on the weekends.” A chuckle that didn’t sound very sincere. “Plus, I doubt that I’ll know a single soul there.”

This was the first time I’d seen Christine, who always seemed to have the world at her feet, look and sound a little uncertain. I’d only really seen her from a distance, except for tonight, but this seemed foreign to her.

“How about volleyball people? Will you know any of them?”

“That’s right,” she said, the smile returning. “There’s a girl I’ve played against three or four times that they recruited last year. I don’t know her very well, but she’ll be a familiar face. Thanks for reminding me.”

The big smile had returned just as the music started.

We’d waited out the two fast dances, I think Christine sensing that I wasn’t quite ready for that. A wise choice by her, indeed. But another slow number had begun, and I was ready.

“Let’s go and see how our big experiment works.” A bright giggle from her.

When we faced each other, her arm around my shoulder pulled me tighter against her, our legs touching, her breasts pressed against my chest, and her face dangerously close to mine.

“Let’s both just slide our feet so we don’t trample each other.”

I nodded, and we began to move.

As Christine guided me around the floor with subtle pressure here and there, I found I was able to pick up a pattern. Of course, with our bodies snuggled together with her pressing against me one way and another, there was a natural reaction that I prayed she couldn’t sense. If she did, it was never obvious. Near the end of the song, I was feeling bold.

“Let me try,” I whispered in her ear, and she moved slightly away from me.

I began mimicking the movement she had shown me. The music ended a little too quickly for my liking, but when Christine stopped and looked at me with a knowing look on her face, I wondered.

“Adrian, that was nearly perfect. You are a quick learner. Maybe a fast one later on. You watch, and I bet you can pick it up from that.”

We danced a few more slow dances, and I gamely tried a fast one with not nearly as much success. But, fumbling, bumbling, or dancing smoothly, just being with Christine was captivating, even more so than I’d imagined it would be. For me, at least, she was the ultimate.

But eleven o’clock came at last, and we walked back to the car, Christine clutching my arm with both hands now, her huge smile bathing me in its glow.

“So I don’t forget to say it later, I had a wonderful time, Adrian. You’re, well, very different from most boys that I go out with, and it was very refreshing.”

What was it about me that was refreshing? I needed to know as it might be useful in the future.

“How do you mean that, Christine?”

She laughed. “I mean it in a very good way. You were just natural and easy to be with, with no pretenses or predilections.”

I wasn’t sure of that last word, but I was willing to accept it as good.

Her parents were waiting for us with freshly cut slices of pecan pie. Christine reminded me that it was her mother’s “signature” pecan pie, I think sending a subtle reminder to compliment her. The pie was the best I’d ever had, and there was no chance of me not complimenting her.

They wanted to hear all about the prom, including decorations, refreshments, and, most importantly, the dancing. Christine looked at me with raised eyebrows, and I answered with a nod. She related the story of our evening of dancing, including my learning the foxtrot–I’d learned that’s what it was called. The smiles I received as she told the story were priceless.

At last, my conscience notified me that I needed to leave. My evening in heaven was about to end.

“Let me walk you to your car,” she said, taking hold of my arm one last time as we slipped out the front door. She squeezed the arm as we made our way to the Jetta.

“Adrian, I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed tonight, so let me try to show you.” Her hands went to my cheeks, and a pair of warm and tender lips pressed gently against mine. A near eternity later, they left with a gentle pop.

I felt like thanking her for making my life complete.

“Me too, Christine. It was wonderful.” It was now or never. “You and I didn’t know each other before, and yet you said yes when I asked you to the prom.”

“That’s all true, Adrian.”

The look on her face said she was teasing me. It made me feel good that she’d do that.

“I was just, um, curious about why, you know, you said yes.”

“Adrian, don’t be silly,” she said, grabbing my hand. “You called, I didn’t have a date, so I said yes. And I’m glad I did.”

During the last two weeks of school, we often passed in the halls, always waving and calling hello. Of course, my friends grilled me mercilessly about the date…how was being with Cristina, was she a good kisser, and did I get any? I just shook my head to all their questions, leading to endless speculation.

On the last day of school, she stopped me in the hall.

“Adrian, have you decided yet what the future holds for you?”

I sighed, a half-smile on my face. “I think I’m just going to enlist, hopefully, get a few promotions, and leave after twenty years with a good retirement, and I’ll only be thirty-eight.”

“Wow, sounds like a great plan.”

I never tired of that gorgeous smile.

“Still off to Stanford?”

“Yes, and I leave very early for a special volleyball camp, and then practice begins, as well as classes. I’ll be busy for sure.”

“But you’ll be successful simply because you’re Christine, and you do everything well.”

“I hope,” she said, looking a little less positive.

“You have my number. Keep me informed if you can.”

“I will, and same for you.” She quickly looked around and mouthed me a kiss.

I checked and sent one back to her.

She went one way, and I went the other, heading for the rest of our lives.

The prom date had been the best day of my life. Little did I imagine that it would be downhill from there.

◇-◇-◇-◇

“Adrian, you need to order bacon. Three of that group of six farmers that came in this morning had double orders, and we were already low.” Jane held the last five-pound package in the air to emphasize her point.

“I’ll get it,” I grumbled. There was always something to screw up the day. But six farmers with double orders helped the bottom line.

“I’ve got three deliveries to make. Can you handle things while I’m gone?”

Jane was excellent, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. But she sometimes pushed the wrong button. I smirked at her.

“I’ve been taking care of it for a few years, so you’re dismissed to go deliver.”

“Smart ass,” I heard her mumble as she grabbed the three bags and headed out to the old Honda I used for delivery. It was fourteen years old but still did what we asked of it.

There were two customers left from the breakfast rush, and when I checked, one wanted more coffee. The one who asked looked around.

“Listen, I can get it,” he said, starting to slide out of the booth.

“Sit still; I’ve got it,” I cautioned as I headed for the half-full pot sitting partway off the warm plate on top of the Bunn coffee machine. Back at the table, I topped off one cup and then the other.

“Separate or together,” I asked.

“I’ve got this one. Your turn next,” the one said to the other.

I found Jane’s order book and punched the numbers into the cash register, then took it to the table.

“Here ya go. Come back anytime you’re close by. Lots of good food.”

“The food was good, for sure. Give the change to the lady who took care of us.” He handed me a twenty and ten.

“Thanks, guys. She’ll appreciate that. An eight dollar and sixty-four cents tip was unusual in this dinner. Not many wealthy people around here.

I scooted around, cleaning the tables and getting ready for the lunch group. There were about twenty regulars, give or take a couple on any given day. The kitchen was ready, and food that I knew would be ordered was laid carefully on the counter. I lifted the lid of “Adrian’s Special” and decided it was nearly ready. My special was a concoction of anything that was left over at the diner, thrown together but carefully seasoned. The regulars knew never to ask what was in it.

“You have two ramp boards that are rotting,” Jane said as she tromped into the kitchen, tossing the keychain on the table.

“I didn’t notice.”

“You never notice anything.” She was counting the burgers I’d tossed on the counter and stacking them neatly

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Another button pushed by Jane, and I saw her sigh.

The sound of the mixer being run garbled her words enough that I couldn’t understand her answer. I moved around the end of the counter much closer to her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I yelled.

She shut the mixer off since there was nothing to be mixed.

“You just wander around here doing things, whatever they might be, and you have no idea of who or what is happening around you.”

“That’s not true,” I snarled at her. “This is my place, and I know what’s going on here.”

“You don’t even know what’s going on in your own life,” she retorted.

That one took me by complete surprise.

“Now you’re just being a bitch, Jane.”

I don’t know how she put up with the way I talked to her, but she did, somehow always finding ways to jar my thinking. I paid her well, and the tips were good, but it was more than that. But I was finishing arguing and grabbed my crutches, and headed outside to cool off.

Going down the ramp, one crutch hit one of the rotten boards, and with a sickening crack, it gave way, the crutch plunging through the newly created hole with me close behind, face first into the weathered boards.

“What happened?” Jame screamed as the screendoor slammed against the wall, and she was hovering over me. “Let me help you up.”

“Get away, I can do it myself.” I tried to find the crutch that wasn’t protruding from the hole in the ramp.

“Let me help you,” she said again, grabbing my arm.

“I can do it myself. Just leave me alone.”

“You can’t do it yourself. You need help.”

I didn’t need help from anyone and hadn’t since I’d joined the army.

“Damn it, Jane, leave me alone. Get inside and cook.”

“You’re the cook, and you can’t do it on your ass out here on the ramp.”

She was pushing me beyond where my common sense and reason ended.

“I’ve fallen before, and I can get up.”

“If you’d get one of those prosthesis, you could walk and wouldn’t fall. Now give me your hand, and we’ll get you back inside.”

“So I’d be a peg-leg-Pete or maybe Long John Silver. I’m not getting a wooden leg, so you can drop that subject.”

“It’s not a wooden leg, Adrian. It’s an artificial limb.”

I had to laugh at that, at her use of the much more medical term. I preferred “wooden leg.” Her hand was right in my face, waiting for me to take hold of it.

“Get that hand away, I’ll get up.” I put my hand down to lift myself. “Damn it,” I fairly screamed.

“What now?”

“I was looking at the palm of my hand where an oversized splinter was protruding from my palm.” I sensed that Jane was doing her best to keep from laughing, and I knew I had only made things worse.

She bent toward me. “Put your arms around my neck and use your good leg to help,” she sternly ordered.

Out of options, I complied. I knew she was in her fifties, but she was stout and strong, and I was finally able to stand. She retrieved the two crutches, and I shuffle-hopped into the diner.

“Get in your chair, and I’ll take your crutches to the kitchen. And let me see that hand.”

Reluctantly, I showed her the hand with the ugly piece of wood jutting out from the palm, a tiny drop of blood now gathered at its base.

“Have you had a tetanus booster?”

I guess I was in for a session of nursing. It was just a freaking splinter. Somehow Jane felt obligated to look after me. It was something I had to endure.

“No idea. I go to the doc, and he does what needs to be done.”

“Maybe I’ll call him later and check.”

“Don’t you dare. I can take care of my own doctoring.”

“Yeah, yeah, we all can.” She was gone for a few seconds and came back with a pair of tweezers, a bottle of something, and a box of bandaids.

“Jane, I don’t need all of that shit.”

“Try to talk nicely while I take care of you, okay…potty-mouth?”

There was no sense trying to respond to that, so I just held out my hand. I watched as she carefully used the tweezers to take hold of the splinter right where it met my palm.

“Tell me if this hurts too much,” she cautioned before she began pulling on the sliver of wood.

Damn it, I was a veteran who’d had half his leg blown off. Nothing hurt too much. When she winked at me, I knew I’d been had.

“Just get it over with,” I said gruffly. I was in no mood for teasing.

She jerked, and the splinter was free, a slightly larger drop of blood appearing. She grabbed a nearby Kleenix and blotted it.

“Biggest splinter I’ve ever removed. Too bad it wasn’t in your ass,” she added with a chuckle.

It took every iota of my remaining self-control to keep from jerking my hand away from her.

She opened the little bottle and used the glass dauber attached to the lid to push some reddish/orange liquid into the hole in my hand.

“Might burn,” she said blithely.

Yes, it burned like hell for as long as it took her to stick a round bandaid patch on my hand.

“Now, make sure whatever it is in that pot in the kitchen is ready because I saw two cars pull in out front.”

I plopped into my chair and headed for the kitchen, Jane right behind me with the crutches. She leaned them against the wall and spun around, heading for the front and the customers that had just come in.

The kitchen at the diner was very special. When I’d purchased the place, a volunteer veterans help group had modified the kitchen so I could do everything from my wheelchair. Counters, cooktops, and needed appliances were all lowered so that I could reach them. If I’d had to cook using my crutches, it would have been a disaster.

I checked the pot, and it smelled wonderful. Everything I needed to prepare lunches was stacked neatly, just waiting for the orders.

I couldn’t get along without Jane.

◇-◇-◇-◇

It was Thursday morning, and Jane was looking a little, well, ill was possibly the best description.

“You look terrible,” I said just after the breakfast rush.

“Just one of my headaches, and I’m a tiny bit dizzy.”

“You can’t make the deliveries. I’ve called Burt to come in and help out. He’ll cook while I’m gone. Write down where I need to go.”

“Why don’t you let Burt do it?”

“I’ve got it.” I handed her some paper and a pen. We’d been supplying lunches to these three for some time and others off and on. Jane always took care of it, and the three ladies enjoyed being surprised with the contents of their lunches.

“These two,” she began, pointing out the first two on the paper,” are close by, and if you toot your horn, they enjoy coming out to pick it up. This one is a little more complicated. You’ve seen the old abandoned Texaco station?”

I nodded.

Turn right and follow that road for about two miles and turn left. It’s the only road along there. It changes to dirt and then to single lane. You’ll see the cottage, and you’ll need to knock.”

Burt arrived, and I filled him in. He’d helped out before, and he promised to keep a close eye on Jane. Her headaches were nothing new, but doctors had told her it was nothing serious.

I grabbed my crutches and the three lunch bags and headed slowly to the Honda. It only took a few minutes to get to Molly’s house and a few more to find Annette’s. Both ladies were surprised to see me and enquired about Jane.

“Just one of those nasty headaches I’m sure she’s told you about.” I knew that Jane liked to visit with the ladies. They were customers, after all.

“I’ve told her before to soak her feet in hot water,” Molly said, a serious look on her face. “It draws the headache to your feet. My granny did that regularly.”

I wanted to ask her if it worked…but she was a customer, and I headed for Annette’s.

Annette was a tall and stately-looking lady with long gray hair, not in a bun but in a neat ponytail. She came to the car very slowly, her steps short and shuffling. But she had a big smile on her face.

“You must be Adrian. Jane always tells me what a wonderful cook you are. And the food I get verifies it. I hope she’s okay.”

Just a headache, so I’m delivering.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“Jane enjoys making these deliveries, so I stay out of it.” I wondered if it all right for Annette to be living by herself.

“I sure love her. She’s so friendly and nice.”

“She is that,” I answered, anxious to get moving. I started to put the Honda into gear.

“Did you bring a lunch?” she asked, her hand on the window.

“Sorry, Annette. I guess I let my mind wander.” My mind seemed to be wandering most of the time these days. I handed her the lunch to a big thank you and headed to my last delivery.

I wondered why Jane didn’t get bored doing this, but I knew she loved talking to the ladies and just being with them. She was like that. I wasn’t quite there yet.

I turned at the old Texaco station, and the road was not like anything I was used to driving. It was rough, with potholes and a lot of missing pavement. I hated to spring for new shocks on this ancient Honda, but they were needed. Maybe I could sell it and pick up a surplus Jeep. I didn’t know if Jane could handle a stick shift, though I’d have to check.

I’d neglected to check the odometer when I started up this road, but Jane had said there was only one road. Up ahead, I could see that the poles with the two electric lines turned left, and sure enough, there was the road.

I couldn’t believe that a road could be in worse shape than the last one, but I was wrong. I was being jarred and jolted and tossed around as I’d never experienced before, except maybe in Iraq. When it finally narrowed to a single lane, I prayed I didn’t encounter any oncoming traffic. Jane had told me there were only two cabins on this road, so it wasn’t likely I’d meet oncoming cars.

Suddenly, in a small clearing, there was the cabin, or cottage. Small but neat, I was surprised that, out here and away from everything, it appeared to be well attended. I knew that it was a woman who lived out here, but I didn’t know a thing about her. There was a short grass and gravel drive, and I pulled in, parked, and struggled to gather my crutches and the lunch sack.

The door to the screened porch was unlocked, and I knocked on the front door.

“Be right there,” a voice called.

The door opened…

Two people, mouths open, had puzzled looks.

It couldn’t be, but maybe? I took a chance.

“Christine?”

She shook her head but stared hard at me, then my crutches.

“Um, um.”

“Adrian.”

“It is you.” She bit her lower lip and shook her head slightly.

It was Christine–the face told me it was her. But she was very different otherwise. Her hair seemed thin and a little unkempt. She was very slender–thin would be a better description. And there was something else. I remembered dancing with her and her body pressed against mine, the swell of her breast clearly obvious. Today, all of that seemed to be gone. I mean, she was thin, but I didn’t think she was that thin.

“You’re surprised to see me here, aren’t you?” Even her voice seemed thin and frail.

“And you didn’t expect to see me delivering lunch.”

I think we both felt awkward with the changes we saw in the other. I wondered if she wanted to talk or just wanted me to leave.

“No, I never expected to see you again, even though this isn’t very far from where we grew up.

“Did you get to Stanford?”

She stared at me for a moment, then turned and stepped away.

I set the lunch bag on a table and gathered my crutches. “I’ll head back to the diner and see how Jane is doing.”

She quickly turned to face me. “Is something wrong with Jane?”

“One of her headaches, so I didn’t want her to drive.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to her. She’s, well,…”

“She’ll be fine. It’s good to see you again, Christine.”

Staring at the floor, she replied, “Can you stay a while, Adrian?”

I could, but did I want to? Did I want to hear her story and share my own because I’m sure that’s where she was headed?

“Sure, Christine. Let me call the diner.”

I called, and Jane said she was feeling much better. She checked with Burt, who was more than happy to fill in. I guess I was staying.

“Where do we start, Christine?”

She surprised me with what she said next.

“Can I get a hug?”

I immediately fumbled with my crutches as she moved close to me.

“Just throw them down. I’ll do my best to hold you up.”

The crutches hit the floor as her arms went around me, and mine went around her.

No matter how we looked or where we were, my mind quickly flashed back seventeen years to that epic night when I held Christine tightly as we danced, and she finally kissed me. Despite her frailness and the bones I could feel as I hugged her, this was Christine. The Christine.

Clinging tightly to me, she said, “You start.”

“I’ll start if you’ll sit down and eat your lunch.”

She sat down at the table and opened the sack. She pulled the hamburger and home fries out, then the container of slaw. The bite she took of the hamburger was tiny and barely needed chewing. I began to understand a little about the fragile lady I was with.

“I think I’d told you I had decided to enlist. It’s hard to remember back that far.”

“You did. You mentioned the army.”

“Christine, take another big bite. I cooked that burger and it’s special.”

I received a hint of a smile.

“All the food that Jane brings is delicious. I just, well, can’t eat very much. But don’t change the subject. Right now, it’s about you.”

About me. Seventeen years to recall, much of which I didn’t want to recall. Those brown eyes that had been so alive and warm back then seemed to have lost much of their life, and I was anxious to hear her story.

“Christine, that night of the senior prom was, well, it was the high point of my life.”

“Oh, Adrian. It’s been seventeen years.”

“Just hold onto what I said because it’s the absolute truth.”

She cocked her head to the side, looking at me a little differently now.

“I enlisted and somehow ended up with the mess hall group. But I learned to cook and studied on my own as well. In just a few years, I was the head chef at an officer’s club. I loved it and knew that’s what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

“And that’s why these lunches are so good.”

“I’m just glad you like them, Christine. Grab another bite of that burger–oh, and the slaw is my special recipe.”

She delicately unsnapped the lid on the slaw container and took a bite.

“Adrian, I see what you mean. It’s wonderful.”

“Another bite of burger and slaw, and I’ll go on.”

I received an instantaneous threatening look, and then her face softened. She took a larger bite of the burger and then a bite of slaw using the plastic fork that was provided with the lunch.

“Is it okay if I just eat the meat and skip the bun?”

I smiled. “It’s your lunch, and you can do as you please with it. I just reserve the right to make suggestions, and you can totally ignore them if you like.”

Christine used the fork to carefully separate the burger from the bun, then tossed the bun into the sack.

She took a bite of the potatoes. “There, without even being told.”

“Christine, you don’t–”

“–Adrian, I know,” she interrupted. “That was my weak attempt at teasing, and that’s something I haven’t done for years.”

I could feel my heart beginning to pound, and that was something I hadn’t experienced for years.

“It’s just that, you know, you’re so much thinner than I remember you.”

“Things happen in seventeen years. You’ll hear about it soon.”

I wondered what she’d do If I hugged her again. It was certainly what something inside of me was telling me to do. Maybe later.

“So you were a chef for the officer’s club. What next?”

This was the part I hated to go into, but it had happened, and it’s what made me what I was as I sat in Christine’s little cabin, sharing with her.

“This is a little harder, so bear with me.” I shrugged. “I was stupid, got drunk, way too drunk, and got in a fight in a bar, and they arrested me. I think my commanding officer, and maybe others too, were jealous of my popularity at the club and took their chance to take that away from me, and I became just a plain old foot soldier…at the wrong time..”

I felt my stomach reacting to those memories.

“Where’s your bathroom?” I didn’t need to go, but if the stomach got too bad, I needed to know where it was.

“The door over there,” she said, gesturing.

“Just in case,” I added as Christine lowered her eyelids.

“What was the wrong time?”

“Operation Desert Storm.”

“Oh,” she replied, reacting sharply.

“Suicide bomber took off most of my lower leg. I still have a few bits of metal inside me as a reminder.” I tried to change my expression as I knew my face had taken on a hard look.

“Do you have a prosthesis?”

A normal question, but my sharp “No!” wasn’t a normal response.

Christine looked surprised as she straightened in her chair. I felt like I should apologize but thought better of it, knowing my response would quell any further questions of that nature. When I got home, I probably should kick myself for being like that, but it was a sore spot.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, I’m sure afraid of angering me any further.

“I get by. I’ve learned to manage the crutches, and I use a wheelchair at the diner. A veteran’s group fixed up the kitchen so I can do everything from the chair.”

“So you came back home and bought the dinner?”

“Pretty much, yeah. But I’ve never seen you there.” I was a little ashamed of my one-word outburst and wanted to focus more on Christine.

“No car, so I’m stuck here. And that’s fine with me.” She looked away, out one of the side windows, I think just avoiding my eyes.

What she’d said was difficult to accept. In high school, Christine had been the most “people person” you could imagine, having friends everywhere and always being with and talking with someone. Alone was not a part of her makeup. I’d stay here all day if I had to just to hear her story. Before I could say anything, she continued.

“I’m content here and don’t need people around. The cable company ran a cable to the cabin, I think feeling sorry for me. So I have TV and the internet, and I try to stay up with the world, even though I don’t understand most of it. I’ve never seen so many people who have so much but are still unhappy, angry, and full of hatred.”

“Tell me about it. That’s why I have the diner. It’s simple and much quieter.”

Another nice smile from Christine. It brought back memories and filled me with warmth I hadn’t felt since…since senior prom.

“I’m sure you want to hear about me.” A positive statement with very negative facial expressions and body language.

It was difficult for me to reply. I wanted to hear it, but I didn’t want Christine to do something that would be unpleasant or painful.

“I want to hear it, but don’t tell me if it’s going to be too unpleasant for you.”

Christine shrugged. “Every day is unpleasant for me, so why not?”

Once more, I just wanted to hug her but kept my distance. All I could see was the Christine that had danced with me at the prom, her body tight against mine. Seventeen years hadn’t changed that.

“I went to Stanford and felt smug and excited. My first year was spectacular as I met new people from all over the country and did well in all my classes. And I made the varsity volleyball team. All of my dreams were coming true.

“In one of my biology classes, I worked with a guy from southern California on a special project. He was good-looking, smart, and the most personable man I’d ever been with. We aced the project, and began dating. By my junior year, I was totally in love, and he asked me to marry him.” She took a deep breath and looked at me. “I said yes.”

I could tell the memories were flooding back into her mind, and from the look on her face and her body language, nearly overwhelming her. There were no tears…yet…but her eyes were watery and on the verge.

“We graduated in June and were married in June.” Two tears trickled slowly down her cheeks.

“Chris, don’t hold back. You can let it out here.” I wasn’t sure I was ready for that, but something made me say it, so I hoped.

“On our honeymoon, I found out he wasn’t the lab partner I’d had or the wonderful man I’d dated. And he certainly wasn’t the man I walked down the aisle to wed and agreed to love forever.”

The words stopped as the tears began. I stood, grabbed my crutches, and headed toward her. I wanted to grab her and hold her, to squeeze her against me, as I’d done at the prom.

“No, Adrian, don’t,” she said sharply enough to stop me where I was.

“Christine, I just want–”

“Please. I’m just…not ready.”

It was tearing at my heart to see her sitting there crying, and I was positive a hug would help. At least, I thought it would. It had been seventeen years. I retreated and helplessly sat down. She’d wanted a hug when I first came in. What had changed?

“Just give me a second.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. We’d had one date, and now, seventeen years later, I was being swept away with all of the feelings that had overwhelmed me then. I could only watch and hope.

“I’m going to keep going, Adrian. At least I’m going to try. I may need some breaks.” The eyes that were fixed on mine were weary and sad.

“Christine, you don’t have to keep going. That’s way too much to expect.”

“If you don’t want to hear it, that’s fine.” Her eyes drifted off into the distance.

“That’s not what I said, Chris.”

Her eyes drifted back to mine. “My older sister is the only one who calls me Chris.” She glanced at the leftover food. “She’s insisted on paying for these lunches that you guys bring every day?”

“Wait, what’s her name?”

“She’s Laura Brown now.”

“Jane takes care of that, so I never heard your name. Can we share with her?”

“No need. I’ll take care of it. She knows all about our date. At least she knew about it then.”

The change of subject had been good for Christine. The tears were gone, and she looked ready to continue.

“Where did I stop?”

“You said your husband…wasn’t the man you married.”

Another deep breath, the stress of remembering showing in her face.

I stirred as if to move toward her.

“Please, Adrian.”

All I wanted to do was comfort her and make her feel loved. I did love her in a way due to her obvious hurting. Plus, it was hurting me a tiny bit that she kept pushing me away.

“It was awful,” she began. “It was such a shock. I was expecting to be loved and cherished. Instead, I was belittled, and if I argued or tried to rebut him, I was slapped in the face. I was suddenly a servant, jumping quickly at every command he gave me. If I didn’t, more slapping.

“He threatened me all the time that if I told or let anyone know, it would be worse. I didn’t dare even tell Laura. He told me so often that I was lucky to be married to him and that most men wouldn’t put up with me. I struggled against it but was beginning to believe it, despite what I’d seen with my parents and others. I had gotten a good job, but he made me auto-deposit my pay into an account in his name only. I received an allowance, and he tried to make me feel thankful for even that.

“One day, I was home alone and watching TV, dreading when he’d come home. The show I was watching turned out to be about a woman suffering through things very similar to my own–and she was able to get away. I think it triggered the common sense center in my brain, and I called Laura and told her about it. She was horrified.”

I watched the look on Christine’s face changing. It wasn’t a triumphant look that was appearing, but a more satisfied look, perhaps. She gazed at me and nodded almost imperceptively. I smiled at her before she looked away.

“I sneaked as many things as I could into the car. It was a Sunday, and I’d be going to work on Monday, but I wouldn’t be returning to that house. He’d threatened me about filing for divorce, too, that he might make it even worse for me. Maybe, if he’d used a baseball bat, it would have been worse, but not that much worse.

“I went to work on Monday and could hardly do my job, both from anticipation and from fear. I wasn’t sure what…” She stopped and looked at me. “I guess I’ve just been using ‘he’ to refer to him. His name is Richard Weber. I called him Dick, and I left off the endings that I wanted to use along with Dick. Anyway, I wasn’t sure what he was capable of, but I was through. When I left work, I got into my car and drove to Laura’s.”

Christine stopped again and sighed. Somehow I was sure there was more to her story, and I wanted to hear it all. Anxious as I was, I was also willing to be patient and not torture her if that’s what telling the story was doing.

“Do you have coffee or tea? We could take a little break and just chat for a few minutes.”

“Adrian, I don’t know.” She stared at me for long seconds. A little more relaxed, she said, “I have both. Which would you prefer?”

I wasn’t a big tea drinker, but I decided that if she had it on hand, she might be.

“How about some good tea?” I chuckled. “It’s been a while.”

“I don’t even have wine to offer you, let alone the harder stuff. I do have Darjeeling. It’s a black tea, and you might enjoy something a little different.”

“Chris, any tea that I have will be a little different.”

“Oh my gosh, let me make coffee, then.”

“Nope. I learned from you once before. I’m anxious to do it again.”

She turned her back to me, and I couldn’t see her face, even though I desperately wanted to. Had her time with Dick so soured her that she didn’t want anything to do with any man, even though our time together had been very enjoyable.

She put water on to boil, fumbled in one of the cabinets for a small metal can, and filled the tea ball, all the while avoiding looking at me. A teapot was retrieved, the water added, and the tea ball submerged.

“Give it a minute or two,” she said, moving to the table and sitting down opposite me.

Despite the time we’d already spent together sharing our stories, she looked ill at ease. She retrieved two cups from another cabinet and filled both with tea, pushing one gently in my direction.

“It’s hot,” she cautioned as I took the first sip, sputtering as what she said was very true.

“Sure different from coffee, but good.”

“What are you doing this, Adrian?”

“Why are you sharing with me, Christine?”

She squinted at me, but there was no answer.

“I’ll answer your question. I’m doing it because you’re the girl who accepted a date with me for the senior prom when I hadn’t expected it at all. You made it the best night of my life, and I’ve wondered about you off and on for the last seventeen years. And now, like a fantasy come true, I’m here with you. That’s why I’m doing this.

“Now let me answer my question. You’re sharing because you remember that night as well, and you trust me. And something within you told you to share it with me. You’ve kept it nearly totally bottled up inside you all this time, and now you’re letting it go.”

“And that’s just the half of it, Adrian.”

“What?”

“I got away, I found a lawyer, and despite Dick’s threats, we were divorced. In the only gutsy thing I did, I told him to give me all the money I’d earned that he’d stashed away and lots more besides. Otherwise, I’d spill what he’d been like. He laughed at me. So, I showed him a few photos I’d taken of myself and mentioned the people who’d seen the marks on my face and who’d be happy to corroborate what I was saying. I got way more than I’d expected since he’d just gotten a promotion where he worked.”

“And that’s where the cabin came from?”

“Well, I kept working and saving, and Laura insisted that I live with them for a while so I wouldn’t be alone where he could grab me. I saved and invested, and…”

“And?”

“Five years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“Christine,” I said, hardly able to believe what she’d just said. “But you were only twenty-seven or eight, weren’t you?”

“Yep, but old BC didn’t give a shit about that. All kinds of treatments that didn’t quite work, and finally, surgery.” She was shaking her head.

“And that stopped it?”

“Seems to have, yeah.”

“Is there a chance it might return?” I was sorry I’d asked that, but it was too late.

“Don’t know where it would return to. No breasts now.”

I felt like the roof had fallen in on me. That was the big difference I could see in her, and it had only partially registered. She was thinner than she had been, but…

She laughed, a hollow and anguished laugh.

So much. So much to handle and to live through. My stomach was flopping, and all I had done was listen.

“Now, I’ll answer that question you asked a while ago. I can see the pain in your face, but you walked in here on crutches with part of your leg gone. That’s why I could share with you because you’ve been where I’ve been. And we’re both still there.”

Unconsciously I put my hand on the carefully wrapped stump of my left leg.

“Maybe I should have stayed home, skipped Stanford, and gone to school in Ohio. I could have hung out with you.”

“Not sure that would have been good. You needed that good school and that good education. I turned into a bitter and crippled soldier. Despite all of that, I’m going to be delivering your lunch a lot more often now.”

She looked away. “You don’t need to do that. Jane and I get along just fine.”

What I didn’t say was that I’d watched her go away to California when I had no magnet or rope to keep her close to where I was. I was going to do my best to not let that happen again. She was obviously reluctant to have that happen, and I could only guess her reasons for that. I was thirty-five and never married. I could be patient a while longer.

“I’m anxious to do that, and unless you tell me absolutely you don’t want me coming here to see you, I’ll keep coming out. You’re alone here, and I’d like to supply some company for you.”

“I’m not alone. I have my trees.”

“Lots of trees out here.”

“When the wind blows, they talk to me. Sometimes they even sing. It’s a soft and warm sound, at least to me, not like the sounds when you’re in the city and around lots of people.”

“Well, I’m not lots of people, and I won’t interrupt the trees when they’re talking to you. I’ll just listen, and maybe you can help me understand.”

She sighed. “There’s no way I can tell you to stay away. That would be mean, and I’m not quite there yet. So, keep coming, but…”

“I’m not expecting anything. I just enjoy talking with you.”

She nodded, I think her way of saying she enjoyed talking with me.

“Go ahead and get,” she said, a lightly teasing sound to her voice, a sound I loved to hear. “I’ll finish the slaw and the potatoes and get some chores done.”

I smiled, gathered my crutches, and she followed me to the door. I climbed into the Honda, waved, and headed for the diner, certain that my whole life had just changed.

◇-◇-◇-◇

Back at the diner, Jane pressed me for what was going on. I gave her a brief update, and I received the biggest smile I’d gotten from her in ages.

“Don’t read anything into it. She’s just someone I knew a little in high school, and it was good to see her again.”

“Listen, I heard you arranging for Burt to fill in all those days so you could deliver to her yourself. I sense that an old fire has been ignited again.”

That was a good way of putting it, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Jane. Burt was a widower with lots of free time, so he was more than happy to fill in whenever I needed him, even the extended time I was asking for now.

“You’re always after me to get involved, Jane. I had one date with Christine, and that’s about the only time we ever talked. We had a good time. I don’t think she has any interest in my chasing her.”

“Did you two talk today?”

“Some, yeah.”

“I’ve spent some time talking with her. She doesn’t say a lot about her life, but I gather from some chance remarks that it wasn’t easy.”

Discretion, discretion, I kept saying to myself. “I got a hint of that too. She was a sharpie and had scholarships to Stanford. And played volleyball there too.”

“She talked a little about Stanford, but I didn’t know about the volleyball. She seems to just want to chat when I’m there and not talk too much about her past. It’s a nice, neat cabin she has.”

“I noticed that. But it sure is a long way out there.”

“She said she was glad she was there during the pandemic. She didn’t have to have a mask or anything.”

I chuckled. With only her whispering trees to keep her company, no, she wouldn’t need a mask. There were times during the pandemic I wished I had that kind of isolation. I’d managed to stay open for carryout orders only, and the regulars kept me going after I’d arranged for specific spots for each of their lunches to be left for their pickup.

“And that Honda bounces around a lot, too.”

“It gets me there and back. That’s all I need.”

“Have you ever driven a stick?”

“Oh, lord, when I was a teen, we had a stick Chevy. I drove it a lot because there was nothing else to drive. Why?”

“I’m thinking of getting a surplus Jeep to drive out there.”

“You’re going to get rid of that Honda?”

“Well, not exactly,” I stammered, not wanting to let Jane in on my plan just yet.

The way she was smiling told me It wasn’t working.

“I don’t know what magic Cristine has, but she’s certainly working it on you. I think the gruff Adrian has disappeared.”

“Don’t count on it,” I said as brusquely as I could manage.

The next day I took a large bowl of the goulash I’d concocted, along with some biscuits on the bumpy trip to Christine’s cabin. I’d called it a cabin, but the more I looked at it, I decided that cottage was a better description. As Jane had suggested, it was neat and clean-looking. There was a slight breeze when I climbed out of the Honda, and the pine trees were whispering. I stood for several moments, just listening. Chris was right in enjoying the sound. I could see that it could become quite mesmerizing.

I didn’t have to knock this time–Christine was at the door waiting for me and shaking her head gently.

“I told you that you didn’t have to do this,” she began.

“But you didn’t tell me to stay away, so here I am.”

Inside, I noticed that everything was spotlessly clean and in its spot. That caused me to smile, and it spread a little warmth through my body.

“Is that one of your goulashes?” she asked when she’d spotted the big bowl. “Jane has brought some of them before, and they’re always delicious.”

“I learned some of that stuff when I was the chef at the officer’s club.”

“I bet they missed you when you left.”

“I heard a little of that before I was transferred. Just water under the bridge.”

“Lots of water under both of our bridges.”

“Amen, lady.”

“And that’s an awfully big bowl, Adrian.”

“I suspect you eat more than one meal a day.”

“Sometimes I do, yes,” she said with a tiny smile.

Looking at her, I was sure there was more truth in her answer than I’d hoped for. Whatever else happened, I wanted to get her back closer to the old Christine than she was now.

I smiled, remembering something she’d said. “I stood outside for a while, and the trees were whispering to me.”

“There’s a nice breeze today, so they would be.”

“And you know what they said?”

“Adrian, don’t.”

“They said that Christine was lonely and needed someone to visit her regularly.”

“Adrian, you don’t know. You just don’t know.”

“Chris, that’s what I heard.”

“Only because that’s what you wanted to hear.”

“Tell me it’s not true, then. Tell me that’s not what they were saying.”

“I don’t know what they were saying. I only know you heard what you wanted to hear. They’re my trees and my friends.”

“They are indeed, and that’s why they told me to come more often. They’re concerned about you and are looking after you.”

“Adrian, I don’t know what to say. I look at you, and I can read you like a dime novel. You’re not at all subtle in your looks or expressions. Let me just say that I like you. I have no reason not to. But I think you are at least a half a lap ahead of me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever catch up.”

“I can always slow down. Maybe I’ll just do that.”

“We only had one date, you know.”

“And you think I’m blowing things way out of proportion?”

“I guess that’s my fear if I’m totally honest.”

“Let’s keep it simple, then. I’ll come out here and bring your lunch, and there’ll be no expectations.”

She stared at me for long seconds. “I don’t believe you, but I like you, and I enjoy talking with you.” She chuckled, something I hadn’t seen much from her. “Your food is too good to take a chance on losing. It’s not fair, but you’ve got me there.”

“You know what they say, all’s fair in love and war.”

She instantly began nibbling her lower lip. “That makes me nervous when you say that, Adrian.”

“It’s just a saying. I’m sitting here trying to think of a good way of modifying it to our situation, but I’m drawing a blank.”

“We have a situation?”

“Chris, you’re doing everything you can to make me flounder.”

She didn’t reply immediately, a thoughtful look on her face.

“Probably so, and I apologize. The walls I’ve built don’t discriminate, so I have to be more careful, I guess.”

She was still keeping her physical distance, though. In the way she talked, looked, and acted, I detected a certain fragility that I hadn’t seen in the short time we’d known each other seventeen years ago. From what she’d shared with me, it was very understandable.

We talked a little more, and I left, Chris thanking me profusely for the goulash she said would last her several days. I knew I’d be back more than once before it was gone.

On Friday, I had been there about twenty minutes after delivering a simple lunch of chili dogs and more slaw since she’d said she really enjoyed what I’d brought before.

“Plans for the weekend?” I asked with a smile.

Christine snorted. “Same plans I always have. Clean a little, watch some TV, and catch up on my reading.”

“Do you use a Kindle or download to your computer?”

“I like the old-fashioned way of reading. Thick books with paper pages. Which reminds me, I have a little surprise for you if you want to hang around a while.” A tiny smile on her face had my blood flowing a mite faster. I usually liked surprises.

It was only about two minutes later that the surprise arrived. There was a knock on the doorframe, and in walked a lady who looked hauntingly like the Christine I’d known before.

“This must be the famous but mysterious Adrian,” the lady said, heading toward me with her arms outstretched.

I wasn’t about to refuse a hug.

“This is my sister, Laura, if you haven’t guessed.”

I hoped Chris would join in on the hugging, but she still kept her distance, even from her sister.

“Hard to miss the resemblance,”

Laura was carrying a paper shopping bag, and I could see that it was filled with books. She sat it carefully on the table.

“Do you have some for me to take back?”

Chris gestured toward a corner of the room. “Bag’s right there, and thanks, as always.”

Laura turned to me. “It’s a deal I have worked out with our local library branch. I check out twenty books, way more than normal, but they know I’ll return them on a regular basis. We’ve been doing it for, what, Chris, two or three years now?”

“At least.”

“I saw a nice chair out there on the small porch. Summer reading spot?”

“Yes, and if the breeze is blowing, the trees provide my music. If not, I play music from the computer.”

“The biology books you wanted are in there, too,” Laura added.

To my questioning look, Chris replied, “I try to keep up. I still enjoy biology. Dick,” she added with a whisper, “head,” back to normal volume, “couldn’t ruin that.”

“I hate to change the subject, but am I too late for lunch? I understand that you bring it out here, Adrian, and that it’s always delicious.”

“If I’d have known, I’d have brought some of today’s goulash,” I said with regret. “I did enjoy getting compliments on my cooking, one of the few things I seemed to enjoy at all anymore…except for Christine now that she was here.

“I saved the rest of what you brought the other day, so we’ll heat it, and Laura can see for herself.”

“Christine, will you quit fidgeting and just go in and pee.”

“You’re so thoughtful and polite,” Chris said, glaring at her sister. But she did head for the bathroom. When she’d closed the door, Laura started talking to me.

“I’d like to talk to you, so let’s leave together, and we can stop up the road when we’re out of sight.”

“Okay, we’ll figure it out.”

Chris was quickly back, I think not wanting to miss anything, and the look she gave her sister pretty plainly said, “I hope you didn’t embarrass me.”

“Did Chris ever mention that she talked about that prom date almost endlessly until she went away to school?” Now was the time for Laura to embarrass her sister.

“Oh, lord, Laura, please don’t start,” Chris said in a pleading tone, her cheeks suddenly rose-colored.

“He needs to know that. It’s only fair.”

Laura was not letting up, and I wondered where she was heading and if she was planning something.

Maybe I could help Chris a little. “She’d kind of hinted that she had a good time, and I sure did. Right, Christine?”

With a stage glare at her sister, she said, “I’m not going to invite you out here anymore if you’re going to, well…” Her voice trailed off, and she glanced quickly in my direction.

Maybe there was hope after all.

We ate, and I received profuse compliments on the goulash from Laura, and Christine followed up each one with, “I told you so.” I’m not sure it was quite that good, but it made me anxious for the talk with Laura.

“You need to bring those kids out to see their Aunt Christine.” The excited look on Chris’s face was the first I’d seen.

“It’s warm enough now so they can play outside. They get unbearable when you keep them locked up inside.”

Meggie and Boyd are never unbearable,” Christine said with a laugh.

So, there was something that could make her laugh–kids, her niece, and her nephew. I filed that away to use in the future.

“How old are they?” I questioned, anxious for more information.

“Megan is fifteen, right?” Christine got out before Laura could open her mouth, “and Boyd is twelve.”

“They’re practically grown.”

“Don’t remind me. Chris, were we like that when we were teens?” Laura directed the question at a bright-eyed and excited Chris, something I hoped I could see more of in the future.

“Probably, and particularly you.” Chris pointed a convicting finger at her sister.

“What do you mean, particularly me?”

“You were the snotty, smart alec typical spoiled teen girl.”

“You were the one who had all the boys chasing you constantly. It was disgusting.”

“That’s because I was so much better looking than you were.”

I was now laughing out loud at the totally unexpected actions taking place in this small cottage in the woods. Chris was animated and expressive. I loved seeing it.

A snort from Laura as she started to say something and sharply cut it off

“You got the prize, though,” said a much more subdued Christine. “Lanny is a treasure.”

“Thanks, sis. He is, for sure. I’m, well, you know.”

“I know. I thought I had one too, except he was the booby prize.”

The light-hearted teasing time had passed quickly, and I decided it was time to make my exit.

“Let me give you my address, so you can send some of that goulash to me,” Laura kidded as she gave me a parting hug.

“Stop by the diner. It’s usually available.”

“I’ll bring Lanny and the girls some time. They’ll be horrified, eating at a small-town diner, but I think they’ll change their minds once they taste the food.”

“Every once in a while, we even have pizza.”

“I’ll surely tell them that. Bye, bye, now, and be safe. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

Very soon, I hoped.

I left and bounced my way down the road until I came to a small clearing, where I pulled off and waited. I checked with Jane, and everything was in order at the dinner, a large group of tourists having wandered in and devoured all of the goulash with requests for more, please. She said they all vowed to return very soon. A few games of solitaire on the phone, and Laura pulled in behind me.

I jumped out and climbed in the passenger side of her Acura.

“I’m surprised you bring this beauty out here with the road like it is.”

“Not much choice unless I rent something,” she said with a chuckle.

We looked at each other for a few seconds, and I could tell that Laura was thinking.

“I hadn’t planned on this, so I haven’t been able to put together everything I want to tell you, so I’ll just wing it.”

“May I ask questions?”

She chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll have lots of those.”

She took a deep breath, and our eyes met. Laura’s resemblance to her sister was almost eerie, enough so that I felt like I knew her. She was enough older that I hadn’t seen her in high school. I was ready to listen.

“After that prom date you two had, Chris talked about it nearly every day. Did she tell you why she accepted the date?”

“She said I was the first to call, and she didn’t have a date.”

“Exactly. That’s my sister, Christine. If the Hunchback of Notre Dame had called first, she would have accepted the date with him. She was straight up and straightforward. She told me she had expected it to be bad and boring, but she enjoyed it more than almost any other date she’d ever had–and she had a lot of them.”

“I kind of thought she did.”

“She said you were straightforward, kind, and polite. When she suggested helping you learn to dance with her leading, you accepted it. She said that most guys she dated were so vain they’d have been offended. You weren’t, and you learned.”

“I don’t want to be gross, but dancing that close with your sister wasn’t unpleasant at all.”

Laura chuckled. “I imagine so. She, well, was a good-looking girl and lady…and could be again,” she added, a pensive look on her face.

This time, I thought I knew where she was going.

“Has she told you anything about her life since that prom date?”

“I don’t think everything, but enough that I hurt deeply for her.”

“She’d kill me if she knew I was talking to you about this, but when she had breast cancer, they did a double mastectomy. I’m just telling you these things because, now that you’re back in her life, I think you can help.”

Back in her life? I was trying to be, but how brave was I? Brave enough to be there.

“Why do you say I’m back in her life?”

She smiled. “Each time we talk now, she brings up something about you. Something major or something minor, but there’s always something. I’m sure she has special feelings for you, but I’m just as sure she’s not going to do anything about it herself, no matter how much, subconsciously probably, she wants it to happen.”

Laura glanced down at my stump. “She said you’d gotten that in the service, but she didn’t say a lot more.”

“That’s true, and someday I hope we’re in a position where I can share it all. You’re a lot like your sister, and I’d like to get to know you better too.”

“Me too, Adrian. Very sincerely, me too.” Another deep breath. “After the mastectomy, I tried to talk her into, you know, reconstructive surgery. She didn’t even want to talk about it, mumbling something about fake and lying, but she’d never really talk about it.”

“So, between the husband, the divorce, and the cancer and surgery, you think…” I trailed off.

“I think she feels like she isn’t a woman any longer. I think you know what I’m saying, but I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“No, no, I understand that. Let me think a little, not my strongest point,” I added with a chuckle.

“I like you, Adrian, and I think you like Christine. I’ll leave it at that.”

“Oh, I do. And that gives me plenty to think about. Hopefully, we’ll run into each other again at the cottage.”

“I hope so. Take care, Adrian.”

“You too.”

I climbed out of the Acura, my mind already working.

◇-◇-◇-◇

“What are you up to in here,” Jane asked, peeking into the tiny room that served as my office. Room was a misnomer since, in another life, it had been a closet. It was all I needed, though. She peered over my shoulder at the computer screen. “So, you’re really serious about getting a Jeep to drive out to the cottage?”

“Yep. It will simplify things.”

“So I’m going to drive that too?”

“That’s the plan, but you can have a while to practice.”

“Are you going to get rid of the Honda, then?”

I had plans for the Honda. “I’ll hang onto it for a while.”

Glancing at her, I could tell she had something on her mind. “Go on.”

“Is it okay if I tell you something personal?”

“About yourself?”

“No, about you.”

I couldn’t tell if the look on her face was anticipatory or fearful. We’d had a few go-arounds since I’d purchased the diner, but nothing serious. What could this be about?

“Go ahead.”

“Well, it’s simple, really. Since you’ve been delivering food to the cottage, to Christine, you’ve been, well, much more pleasant to be around and to work with.” She raised her eyebrows expectantly.

“You really think so?”

“Definitely. I think she’s having a good effect on you.”

“Thanks for sharing that, Jane. I…I guess I don’t know quite what to say.”

“Don’t say anything, you might mess it up,” she said with a giggle and hurried out of the closet.

More to think about. Or perhaps it was all tied together. As I thought about it, I could see the possible connection. I had been all about myself and my screwed-up life, and that had made me a little selfish, grumpy, and inconsiderate, a part of a constant pity party. Now I was suddenly very concerned about Christine and wanted to be around her all the time. I smiled.

Now if only Christine felt the same way.

Over the next few days, I made many phone calls and finally located a jeep. When I mentioned I was a partially disabled veteran, a fellow veteran in Pennsylvania vowed to get me a jeep, and very cheaply, as well. True to his word, the jeep was delivered to the diner by a gentleman much older than myself wearing a military uniform with several medals.

He greeted me with a crisp salute, and I returned it, something I’d thought I’d never do again. I gave him my check, and he presented me with a signed title and a letter verifying the sale. His wife was in a second car, and after sharing a few military stories, he headed back to Pennsylvania, and I sat there smiling at my new Jeep. It did dredge up a few memories, and I was fairly successful in sweeping them away.

I was working on another idea, much more drastic and dramatic. It was a complete turnaround for me, and it was the first step in what I wanted to happen.

The following day I proudly drove the new Jeep to the cottage.

Christine answered my knock, and I stepped aside and gestured.

“A Jeep. Is that new?”

“Just got it yesterday. Had to hunt around to find the right one.”

“The right one?”

“Yeah, the one that didn’t cost too much.”

Chris laughed at that, and the infrequent sound of her laughter was like a gentle melody, always warming me and making my heart feel like it was swelling up inside me.

“Needed it to bring lunch out to you.”

“You didn’t get that just to bring lunch out here.”

“What did I get it for, then?”

“Adrian, I’m going to have Laura stop ordering lunches from the diner if you keep doing silly stuff like this.”

“Wouldn’t matter; I’d keep coming out anyway.”

She locked eyes with me, and I could tell there were things she wanted to say, but she wouldn’t allow herself to say them. Somehow I needed to get that to change. I was working on something.

“Come on, take a ride in my new Jeep,” I said, nodding my head toward the door. I could tell that surprised her.

“You just brought lunch. I need to eat it before it gets cold.”

“It’s in an insulated bag, so it will stay warm.”

“I’m hungry and need to eat.”

I smiled at her. “Christine, I’m on crutches, but I still think I can drag you out of here and into the Jeep.”

“Adrian, why do you do this to me?”

She seemed taken aback by what I’d said and looked ready to run. I wanted to tell her it was because I was falling in love with her–maybe for the second time. I knew there’d be an appropriate time to share that with her, but not right now.

“Chris, you need to get outside and at least take a peek at the rest of the world. It’s a very normal thing to do.”

“If only I were a normal person.”

I smiled broadly, threw down my crutches, and began hopping toward her on one leg, my arms extended.

“Adrian, don’t you touch me,” she squealed, backing away with her eyes wide.

“Walk with me or get dragged,” I said as firmly as I could through the smile.

“If I agree to take a ride, will you stop this hopping toward me?”

“I’d like to because it’s wearing me out.”

She couldn’t contain the grin that curled the corners of her mouth. It was a small victory, but it buoyed me tremendously. I retrieved my crutches, and we went out the door, Chris looking back over her shoulder as though she couldn’t believe she was actually leaving the confines of the cottage. She did grab an extra shirt on the way out.

“Be honest,” I said.

“Okay,” she said, raising her chin in a semi-defiant position.

“How often have you left the cottage?”

She snorted. “Not often. Laura forces me sometimes, but I always resist. I’ve been to the doctor a few times, and she always insists that I renew my driver’s license, even though I have no plans to drive again.”

“So, you have a valid driver’s license, then?”

“Yes, why?” Now she looked suspicious.

“Just filing it away for reference.” That wasn’t exactly true, but I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

The good fortune I’d had with the Jeep, and the thing that made it difficult to find, was that it had been modified to be driven by an amputee, just as the Honda was as well. I helped Chris into her seat and with her seatbelt, but she still seemed to be avoiding my touch. There were two possibilities, and I liked to cling to the second one–that she knew that if I touched her, she wouldn’t be able to resist. I was optimistic when it came to Christine.

We bounced along the road for a quarter mile or so.

“Is that too uncomfortable?” I wasn’t anxious to cause her any pain, and I wasn’t sure about everything.

“Nope. I’ve done it before,” she answered loudly over the sound of the motor. It didn’t have the best muffler any longer. “Where are we going?”

“Where would you like to go?”

“Back to the cottage?”

“No way. I know where we can go.” I looked at the road ahead, avoiding the question I knew her eyes would be asking.

I finally looked back, and she was shaking her head, but I thought I detected a twinkle in her eye. Perhaps wishful thinking, but…

When I turned onto the main road, she squinted at me.

“You’re talking me to the diner, aren’t you?”

“Very perceptive, my dear Christine.” That brought a different look from her.

“Adrian, I can’t go there, even if I wanted to. I didn’t dress up, and I’m a mess.”

I glanced at her. “I believe everything is covered except for that beautiful face, of course.”

Her look told me I’d crossed her line with that statement, but it was time that I began telling her how I felt about her, line or no line.

We didn’t say anything more till we pulled into the parking lot at the diner, and Chris smiled.

“There’s your old Honda,” she said, pointing.

“No, there’s your Honda,” I countered. Her head snapped around.

“What!? No! Adrian, you can’t do that. No!” Her head was pivoting as she looked at the Honda and then at me.

“I don’t need it anymore, so you might as well have it, kind of a just in case thing.

Christine’s breathing was suddenly ragged, almost panting as I watched her working to assimilate what I’d just said. I couldn’t stop smiling, although I felt a little guilty getting such pleasure out of her discomfort.

“I can’t take it, you know that.”

“It’s going to appear at your house one of these days, and you’ll have it.”

“I won’t drive it,” she said almost defiantly.

“That’s up to you. I’m not going to force you to drive it. It’s been a good and steady car for me for lots of years, though. You might want to use it sometime.” Lots of thoughts filled my mind regarding horrifying her with things she might use it for, but once more, I restrained myself.

I hadn’t noticed that Jane had come outside and witnessed our exchange.

“It’s a great little car,” she said, emphasizing my point.

“Jane, I can’t. It’s just…”

Jane moved to Christine and put her arm around the thin waist. “Just take it. It’ll make him the happiest guy in the county, maybe even the state.”

I made a mental note to give Jane a bonus.

“Can we just go back to the cottage?” Chris finally said. “I don’t need any more surprises.”

The Honda wasn’t mentioned on the ride back to the cottage, most of the conversation being Chris commenting on the things she was seeing and how many of them had changed since she’d seen them last. She climbed out of the Jeep and turned toward me.

“If you can promise to be good, and you know what I mean, you’re welcome to come in for a while.”

“Agreed,” I answered, happy to spend more time with Christine. I wondered if something had changed, even if only a tiny bit.

We went inside, and Chris began to eat. “Want to share?”

“I don’t eat that stuff,” I teased.

“You should try it. Tastes delicious. And I know the chef.” That beautiful smile came my way again.

“That chef would enjoy coming to your cottage and custom preparing a meal for you.” I sent her my most hopeful look.

“Adrian, that sounds…”

“Tempting, right?”

“You promised to be good.”

“Cooking a meal for you is as good as I can be.”

Meeting her eyes, I sensed her resistance weakening. When she began shaking her head, I knew I had her.

“I may be sorry, but okay.”

I prayed I didn’t burst from the joy that filled me due to her six-word answer. “You won’t be sorry,” I assured her, already thinking about the menu.

But she was watching me as she finished her lunch. She stood.

“Be right back.” Chris headed to the tiny bathroom. I thought it was a necessary trip, but as I listened, the unmistakable sound of tooth brushing came through the thin walls. She was smiling when she returned.

“I think I need to straighten something out.” She sat down across from me, elbows on the table. She took a deep breath, then another. Was she going to tell me to stay away? It was my turn to be nervous…and helpless.

Chris smiled. “Get rid of that look. I’m not about to banish you.”

She knew how to get me to relax.

“I know that Laura pays for my lunches, but you almost always deliver them.” Her eyes bored into mine. “And I know why you’re doing it. You’re very transparent, Adrian.”

“I probably am, Chris. And I’m sure you know how I feel about you. I guess I haven’t tried to hide it.”

“And then the Honda.”

“The Honda is something to make you, or perhaps just to allow you to step outside yourself. Seventeen years ago, I saw a side of you that needs to be you again.”

“Sometimes circumstances change us.”

“Do they really, Chris?”

She glanced to where my leg should be. “I don’t know. Do they, Adrian?”

“Sometimes we can just be stubborn.” I was speaking from experience and knew something Chris didn’t.

She chuckled. “Sometimes the pot calls the kettle black.”

I could tell she wasn’t through.

“I’m comfortable here, alone with the trees. They’re my friends, and they give without asking. I’m comfortable sitting in my chair, reading, and listening to my friends whispering to me. I’ve gotten used to it and don’t have anything pulling at me to change it.”

I recognized that I was pulling at her to change that. It was frightening to think that I might totally foul up her life and that maybe she wasn’t really interested in me as anything but a friend. It was frightening but something I needed to consider.

“I can see that, Chris. But I am who I am. I can’t deny that.”

“I wouldn’t want you to, not for me or anyone else.”

“So, we’ll see?”

“That’s the best we can do, isn’t it.”

We chatted for another fifteen minutes before I left and headed back to the diner.

◇-◇-◇-◇

I was beginning a new segment of my life, one that I had never imagined.

Jane was the only one I told, as I didn’t want lots of questions and speculations.

I had meetings and answered a thousand questions. Why, why, why, I kept hearing, and I told them why over and over. At last, they seemed satisfied, and I had a K3 rating, just down from the K4 rating that was for those who wanted to be athletes.

Next came exams, checks, and careful and delicate moldings that were explained to me as being extremely important. I received lots of information regarding attachment methods and had to make a decision regarding that.

I met with a physical therapist who got me ready to start, telling me what to expect and how she’d be able to help. She was a redhead, about my age, and cute. Tina. That helped me to listen to her carefully.

I was ready.

Since my amputation was below the knee, I had an advantage in learning to use the prosthesis. It was much easier than if you also had a prosthetic knee joint.

The leg arrived, and I was very lucky. It fit perfectly, and there was no pain. I worked with Tina on walking, and that went well too. She complimented me on how determined I was and what great progress I was making.

At last, I was ready.

All of this time, I had been taking lunches to Christine and spending time with her, as usual. She’d commented several times that I seemed to be bubbling with excitement, and she wondered what was going on. I could hardly wait to show her.

It was a Friday, and I had been officially released from rehab. This was the day I had been waiting for, and I was nervous. I wasn’t sure why, but when Jane gave me a hug and said she was proud of me, I knew it was time to do it.

I parked the Jeep in the usual spot, grabbed the box with the lunch, and started for the front door when it opened, and Christine stepped outside.

“I was getting hungry and hoped you’d be here…” She stopped, her eyes wide as she looked from my face to my feet and back.

“I have two legs,” I said, helping her out.

“Adrian, what…? I watched the tears begin to flow. “You did it,” she said through her sobs.

I think I surprised you. ”

“Adrian, you said you didn’t want to be apeg leg.”

“People change, and things change too.”

“Things change?”

I looked at her but didn’t reply.

She was looking at me intently as though trying to pry open my brain and extract my thoughts.

“What are you saying, Adrian?”

I smiled broadly. “I haven’t said a thing.”

“I think you’re saying something by what you’ve done and the way you’re smiling.”

“I think you’re right, Chris. And I think you know why I did it.”

More tears, but for me, they were wonderful and joyful tears. They told me that she understood.

“I think I do, and that frightens me.”

“I’m here to take away that fear, Chris.” I stepped toward her, and to my relief, she didn’t move. “Christine, I think you already know it, but now I’m going to say it.”

She closed her eyes and sucked in a big breath.

“I love you.” Her eyes opened. “And now I’m going to hug you.”

I did, and felt her return it.

“Why would you love a worn-out thing like me?” she asked, her head against my shoulder.

“Because you’re the most loveable woman I’ve ever come across.”

“I think the war made you crazy.”

I was waiting to hear those three words and was willing to wait as long as Christine’s doubts and stubbornness caused her to withhold them.

“In a contorted sort of way, the war brought me to you.” I kissed her on top of the head, waiting for her reaction. When I felt her body relax, I had my answer.

“Karma has a mind of its own.”

The smile in her voice was a positive sign that I cherished, as well as the firm feel of her arms around me.

“So, did karma put you in this cottage?”

“Laura found it, and I’ll have to check with her about karma.”

We were now rocking gently side to side as we hugged and talked.

“I’m not sure that karma announces itself when it strikes. So Laura would have no idea.”

She was silent for long seconds, still squeezing me tightly. After the tap dance we had been doing lately, having her holding on to me so tightly was amazingly satisfying.

She leaned her head back, her eyes finding mine.

“You’re waiting for me to say I love you right back, aren’t you?”

“Christine,” was all I could manage to get out.

“I can’t run from it any longer, Adrian. If you can love me, I can love you just as much…maybe more. And I do. I love you too.”

“I feel like dancing a jig, but I need a little more practice.”

This time I could feel that warm laugh with her body tight against mine. It was heartwarming and blood-heating as well.

“So, you did the leg just for me?”

“When I take you places, I want to stride along with you on my arm. Does that sound corny?”

“It would have been a couple of months ago, but not today. Come inside for a while. I need to make a telephone call to Laura.”

Just as I had suggested, we walked to the door arm in arm.

I sat as Chris punched in her sister’s number.

“Hi, Chris. Why the Facetime call?”

“I have something I want you to see.” She was motioning for me to stand with her other hand as she turned the camera toward me.

“Oh, hi, Adrian.”

“How are you, Laura?”

“I’m good. What’s up, sis?”

“Do you notice anything different?”

“The picture on the phone is kind of small.”

“It’s plenty big enough.”

To help Chris along, I stood on my good leg and lifted the other.

“So, Adrian is doing…” A pause. “You have two legs!”

“Yes, he got it so he could walk with me when we go out.”

I couldn’t see Laura’s face, but I could imagine the look.

“He loves me, and I love him. I need the name of that doctor you used to tell me about.”

I watched her copy some information onto a piece of paper, then hang up.

“What’s wrong, Chris? Why the doctor?”

Sticking out her chin, she said, “If you can do it, so can I.”

It took a couple of seconds for what she had said to sink in.

“Chris, my gosh, you don’t have to–” Her hand across my mouth cut me off, so I kissed it, of course.

She slowly removed it. “I kissed you once after the prom. Do you remember?”

How could I ever forget that?

“Your turn to return it.”

I was already thinking about doing that, so my hands went around her head, pulling it toward mine. When our lips meant, it was seventeen years of anticipation for me, and I couldn’t keep from making a joyful sound in my throat. I had never had feelings like those filling my body at this moment. I would be more than content with a life filled with them.

When we separated, we didn’t as Chris leaned in and gave me a very tender and soft kiss that was somehow so sensual I could barely breathe.

“I’m so glad you came out to see me,” she said barely above a whisper.

◇-◇-◇-◇

Chris turned to me, an intense look on her face with a hint of fear in her eyes.

“I knew you’d tell me you loved me one day. I guess I thought it might be a little more in the future. I may have just been kidding myself, though.”

“I wanted you to be ready…so I waited. I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“I’ve been fighting with myself, Adrian. There was no one I’d rather be with than you, but I wouldn’t let myself admit it.”

I hugged her and kissed her forehead.

“I’m still struggling with myself if I’m honest with myself and with you. I love you, Adrian, but a lot of me is broken.”

My heart felt like it was broken along with hers, hearing her say those words.

“I just know that I love you.” And I’d know that for a long time.

“Yes, and I love you…and I want you, and that’s what frightens me.”

I smiled. “I understand that, Christina. At least, I think I do. I’m counting on you to help me be sure I do. I hope it doesn’t surprise you that I want you too.”

“Why?”

“It’s not complicated. I love you and want to share that with you.”

“It’s been a long time for me. A long time. And lots of doubts have accumulated.”

“Well, I’m going to show you something, and we’ll go from there.”

“Adrian?”

I laughed. “At least your mind is in the right place.”

It was a cloudy day and a little dark in the cottage, but the pink in Christine’s cheeks was clearly visible and quite enchanting. I reached into my pocket and paused.

“It’s too dark in here to see what you’re up to,” she ventured

There was a bright flash followed quickly by loud crashing thunder.

“Wow. I love the sound of the rain on your roof.”

“I had a tin roof put on when the shingles needed to be replaced. The insulation dampens the sound a little.”

“I’m envious, Chris. I grew up sleeping in a tin-roofed room over our back porch. When it rained, it was the most comforting sound in my world.”

It was definitely getting darker and louder from thunder and the downpour.

“More karma, Adrian. We had a cottage at the lake with a tin roof. I loved that sound.”

I held up my hand in front of her.

“What is it? It’s too dark to see. Let me turn on a light.”

“No light today…or tonight.”

“Tonight?” she questioned, and I couldn’t tell if she was smiling or afraid.

I held my hand in front of her face once more.

“What is that? Adrian, it’s not…”

Her voice gave her away that time. “No, I’ll save that for later. I wouldn’t push you that far quite yet.” Even in the darkness, I could sense the tension leaving her body.

“But what is it, then?”

“Take it, and you tell me.”

She took the little packet in her fingers, and in the dim light, I could see her looking at it.

“Oh my gosh. Adrian, are you, well, serious?”

“Chris, I came out here to show you my new leg and to tell you I love you. Yes, I do love you, and I am serious. Very much so.” I stepped forward and hugged her tightly against me.

“But I’m not the same Christine you danced with at the prom.”

“Neither of us is, but should that keep me from loving you…loving you completely?”

“That’s not a fair question. I can’t be inside your head and your heart.”

“Nor I yours. So I can only tell you what’s in those places, and it’s total and unconditional love for you. It’s up to you to believe me.”

“You have to know that it’s not you that’s the problem; it’s me. It’s the way I feel about myself.”

“I came to the cottage knowing what I was going to say and what I wanted to do. It would depend on what you’d say back to me.”

“I told you that I love you, and I do, more than anything.”

“Along with love comes trust. Do you trust me?”

As I squeezed her tighter, she relaxed again.

“If I love you, then a big part of it is trusting you.”

Another bright flash of lightning was followed by a clap of thunder, the sound of the rain on the roof even louder.

“Mother nature has given us a perfect time and a perfect setting,” I said since I had always been fascinated by storms.

“There’s no way I can resist you, even if I wanted to. You have my total love and trust”

I took hold of her hand, and we walked to the tiny room that held her bed. The thunder was sporadic now, but the delightful roar of the rain on the roof was continuous. It was like we were in a Hallmark movie, and the setting was absolutely perfect. As she lay down on the bed, I remembered that night at the prom. She was my dream girl after that, but I never imagined I’d see her again, let alone fall in love with her and her with me. There is enchantment in the world, and I was in the midst of it.

I kissed her, then sat on the edge of the bed and carefully unfastened her slacks. As I began to slide them down her legs, she lifted her hips to help. That simple action made my heart pound even harder.

Her panties were next, and once again, she helped. I stood and removed my pants and boxers, then my shirt. I was naked, and I had a plan. As I crawled onto the bed, Chris spread her legs to welcome me.

My fingers, tongue, and lips began their quest to provide Christine with as much pleasure as it was possible to give. Her loud moans and gasps blended with the sound of the rain to provide a symphony of ecstasy to my ear. It was far beyond anything I had experienced or even imagined. When the spasms of her orgasm began with even louder and more intense moans, I thought I might join her. But I had something else I wanted to do.

“Hey, lady, I love you,” I whispered loud enough to be heard over the sound of the rain when her body stopped moving.

“Oh, Adrian, I never imagined that making love with someone I truly loved could be so wonderfully magical and fulfilling. My body is still vibrating and tingling.”

“I didn’t know, Chris, but I hoped.”

“And thank you for being the Adrian I just knew you’d be.”

“Once again, I didn’t know, but I hoped.”

“I hope you haven’t lost that little packet,” she said, adding a tiny giggle.

“Oh, why’s that?” I teased.

Another giggle. “Because we’re only halfway there, and I’m anxious for the second half.”

“Well, you had the packet, so I’m at your mercy.”

“You’re right, so it must be in the bed somewhere.”

We began searching in the dark, and I took every chance I had to poke and touch Christine, delighting in her squeals and struggles.

“I have it,” she said, “so stop tormenting me.” Another giggle.

I plan to be tormenting you for…well–” Her hand went over my mouth.

“You’d better be about to say forever, or I may toss this packet in the trash.”

“Forever,” I said as fast as I could.

“I’ll love every tickle even though I may not show it at the time.”

“Enough of forever for a while. I have a plan for right now.”

“You’ve been planning?”

“On the fly.” I slid across the bed and sat on the edge, both feet on the floor. “Come around here and sit on my lap facing me.” There was hardly room enough on this side of the bed for that to happen, but it would be perfect for Chris.”

She stood up and moved beside me.

“You’d better open that packet and properly prepare for what’s about to happen.”

“Perfect,” she said, opening the packet and holding the condom in her hand. She took hold of my erection and squeezed. “I need to be sure it’s ready,” she said and began to gently stroke it. “Did you have this when we danced at the prom?”

“I did, and I’m surprised you didn’t feel it poking your belly.”

“I may have, but I ignored it. Now that I think of it, though, it’s a nice compliment.”

“I wasn’t thinking of it that way at the time, and can you just hurry before I have a heart attack.”

“That wouldn’t fit with the forever thing, so okay.”

I was quickly sheathed.

“What now, boner boy?”

“Christine?”

“I think I’m finding that when I get sexed up a little, I’m a slightly different girl.”

“Woman.”

“Yeah, that too,” she said as she stepped across my legs and lowered herself, guiding me toward her as she did. “It’s been a while, so I’m going to go slow.”

“Not too slow, or I may come way too soon.”

“In that case, I hope you brought two of those packets.”

Who was this surprising and equally exciting woman that I was about to share sex with? I was finding out and anxious to know more. But her now puffy and excited labia had engulfed the head, and she was lowering herself, taking more inside her every second.

Our lips met, and our tongues began exploring as she began moving up and down, slowly at first but speeding up slightly with each thrust. When my finger found her clit once more, she moaned loudly and sped up even more. Not able to hold off any longer, I began filling the condom, my body jerking violently over and over. I was just beginning to ease off when I realized that Christine was spasming once again, moaning more softly into my ear this time.

As if on cue, the rain lightened, and more light began filling the windows, and the beautiful woman I was in love with came clearly into view as she leaned back against the wall, breathing heavily.

‘I didn’t know I could do that.”

“What, have wonderful sex with me?”

“Well, that too, but I didn’t know I could come twice so close together.”

“Was it good?”

“Oh my gosh, the first one felt like I was being launched into outer space. The second was so fulfilling and satisfying.”

“I wonder what a third and fourth might be like.”

“Adrian, you’re going to turn me into a pervert.” One more delightful giggle.

“Well…”

“Don’t you dare say it,” she said, smothering my words with a kiss. Then quickly, she added, “Don’t leave. Can you stay tonight?”

“Is that your wish?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then it’s my command.”

She reached down and took hold of the metal of my prosthesis. “I want to hear all about this, the why, the how, and the when. And, if you’d like, we can talk about what I’m going to do since I’ll need your help to get through it.”

“On one condition.”

“Uh oh, what’s that?”

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“That you ride with me in the Jeep to the store where I can get a package of packets and some underwear.”

A belly laugh from Chris. “It’s a deal.”

“I think you really enjoy having your niece and nephew with you.”

“You noticed that, huh. I surely do.”

“Do you suppose Laura would like to have a niece and nephew too?”

“Adrian, I would love that if it’s possible.”

“All we can do is try.”

I was a happy man. I thought that Christine had been alone with her trees long enough and that she was more than happy to have me join her

We were two changed people, and I could hardly wait to see what our future would contain.